In the upcoming Olympic men's soccer quarterfinals on August 3, Beijing time, Argentina U23 team head coach Mascherano revealed his tactical layout and match outlook to the outside world before the match. Facing the strong host France U23 team, Mascherano showed great strategic vision and calm mind.
First, Mascherano made it clear what the key to the game was - controlling the tempo of the game. He was well aware that if Argentina were to get into an attacking battle with France, they would probably make mistakes because of the fast pace. Therefore, he emphasized that the Argentine team must try to control the ball as much as possible and start the attack through solid passing and running to form a solid collective combat system.
Speaking about the French squad, Mascherano showed enough caution. He pointed out that the French team has two experienced veteran strikers, as well as a key front player, Oliseh, which are all players who can pose a threat to the opponent in a short period of time. Therefore, the Argentine team must be well prepared for defense, while not neglecting the efficiency of the offensive end.
Mascherano also has a clear understanding of the match environment. He knows that France, as the hosts, will enjoy the support of the home crowd, which may bring some psychological pressure to the Argentine team. However, Mascherano emphasized that the team should focus on what they can control, which is playing good soccer. He called on the players not to waste their energy on these uncontrollable factors, but to focus on what they do well, stay focused and minimize the possibility of making mistakes.
